Editorial

Whither the bridge? Snippets page 19.

I was delighted to hear from Society member, Brian Mateer, shortly after the publication of our April Newsletter and I am doubly pleased to give him credit for the photograph on the back page of that issue, which was later bought by Suffolk County Council's Archaeological Unit. Brian has provided some fine examples of his aerial photography and the Society's Executive Committee are very interested in his extensive collection. See page 5 and page 19 (second snippet).

On May 10 over 90 members attended a meeting, chaired by Tony Marsden, to discuss the outline plans for scheme 2 of the Cornhill redevelopment, due to go before the IBC Planning Committee on 31 May. Neither Councillors nor officers of Ipswich Borough Council felt able to attend owing to the forthcoming General Election.

Society Chairman, John Norman, gave a presentation illustrating past uses of the Cornhill and a succinct explanation of the current scheme. 28 questions or observations from members followed; while the scheme was not overwhelmingly supported, there was general agreement that something needed to be done to renovate the area after 31 years and thereby enhance the town. Mike Cook summed up succinctly. The Society's recent successful AGM (see p.7) and Cornhill event (see page 3 and page 6) probably showed our 100% voluntary organisation at its best.

Houses built along the top of the town's earthen defences: Tower Ramparts in the 1930s. Electric House and the Footman Pretty corset factory are in the background. (From the Society's Image Archive.)